Cable clamp



'C. W. AND J. T; KEMPER.

CABLE GLAIVIP. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, I920.

} Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

ATTORNEY or pulls, andespecial ar'companving drawings, in which v UNI EDSTATES PAT CHARLES W. KEMPER AND JOHN T. KEIVIPER, OF ALAMEDA,CALIFORNIA.

" CABLE CLAMP.

'- Specification of Letters Patent. Pate ted 31 28 1922 Applicationfiled November 3, 1920. Serial No. 421,440.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES W. KnMrnR and JOHN T. KEMPER, citizensofthe United States, residing at Alameda, in the county of Alameda andState of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in CableClamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cable clamp and especially to imorovementson the structure shown in our atent No. 1,366,007, dated January 18,1921, application for which was filed June 17 1919.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple,substantial cable clamp whereby cable ends may be effectively secured.and prevented from accidentally separating when subject-ed to heavystrains y to provide what may be termed a unit clamp, that is a clampwhich does not require bolts, nuts, etc., when in use and which does notemploy any dotachable or removable parts.

Another object oft-he invention is to provide a cable clamp whichfunctions like a wedge and which employs jamming rollers to secure thecable ends; further a clamp which is self locking and automaticallyincreases its clamping action in proportion to the pull. exertedfAnother object of the invention is to pro vide means for securing therollers against removal when the clamp is not in use; also to providemeans for securin r the rollers againstreleasing or retrograde movementwhen in jamming position; further to retain the rollers elevated. at alltimes, or in a position where they will not interfere with the:treeinsertion or removal of: the cable ends. 40

The invention consists of the parts and Other objects will hereinafterappear.

the construction, combination and arrangeinent of partsas hereinaftermore fully de scribed and cla med, having reference to the Fig. 1 is aside elevation partially in section. showing the clamp in position on.a.

\ cable.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2--2, Fig; 1. Fig. 3 is alongitudinalplan section on line 3+3, Fig. 1.

Fig. {l is a perspective view of the roller lock. 7 7

Referring to the drawings in detail, A

indicates in general the clamp forming the subject matter of the presentapplication.

extend toward each other and terminate in the longitudinal centralchamber 6.

The upper section B consists of a horizontal portion 7 and an inclinedportion 8. This inclined portion forms an acute angle with relation'tothe cable ends 9 and 10, passing through the clamp, and is provided forthe reception of a roller 11. The lower section C is similar to theupper section B as it also conslsts of a horlzontal SGCtlOIl, asindicated 'at- 7*, a'ndanangular inclined section 8* whichalsoforms an.acute angle with relation to the cable s. The inclined inner facesformed by the sect-ions 8 and 8 are parallel asare also the innerhorizontal facesforn'icd by the sections 7 and 7.

There are-two rollers employed, the one indicated as 11, and a second as11%. The opposite ends of the clamp are open, or in other words it maybestated that triangular shaped. pockets terminate in openings permitfreeinsertion of the rollers 11 and These rollers are constructedsubstantially asshownin Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Their faces are slightlyconcaved as (at- 12 to conform tothe contour of the cables and eachroller is provided with a central pin 14, the ends of which extendslightly beyond the parallel faces of the'rollers. The rollers are freeto move longitudinally in the trithrough the respective ends of theclamp to angular chambers in the space formed between the side walls2and 3, as the width oithe respective rollers is slightly less than thewidth of the chambers t and 5, Formed in each side wall is achannel 15.These channels-are provided for the reception of the projecting pin ends14, and they serve. I the function of guiding the respective rollerswhen these are moved longitudinally within the respective chambers. Thechannels which extend in a diagonal direction arev disposed on the sameangle as the inner faces of the inclined sections 8 and 8 and the faceof the respective rollers will therefore engage said interior inclinedfaces when movement is transmitted to the same in a longi" tudinaldirection; the channels forming no other function but that of a. guideand a "support for the respective rollers.

To prevent weakening of the side walls 2 and 3. offset portions areformed in the side walls as indicated at 16, and the channels are formedtherein. This is of im ortance as considerable strain is exertec by therollers when in gripping engagement with the respective cable ends. Toprevent removal of the rollers with relation to the respective chambers,we provide a roller lock such as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Thislock is constructed of sheet metal and consists of a clip substantiallyas shown in Fig. 4. The legs of the clip. indicated at 17. are insertedin the channels 15 and the ends are then bent over or clinched asindicated at 18. The head 19 of the clip locks the clip against inwardmovement, while the clinched over portion 18 secures the clip againstoutward movement. The head of the clip, in this manner. tonne a closurefor the end of the channels 15. or in other werds' a stop which prevents.endwise renioval of the rollers. The ofi'set portions 16 are providedwith a slot at one end. as indicated at 20. These slots permit clinchingor bending of the inner ends of the legs of the clip, as indicated at18, and they also permit insertion ofa split cotter pin such as shown at21. The cotter pin normally assumes the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3whenthe clamp is not in use so as to hold the rollers elevated and intheir outermost positions. but the cotter pins are removed when theclamp is applied to a cable as shown in Fig. 1. and they are replacedbehind the rollers as will hereinafter be described. to secrire therollers against being accidentally released when in clampingor jammingposition. v v I In actual operation, cmployinga clamp such as shown inFifi. 1, if it is desired to secure a pair of cable ends, itisaccomplished by slipping the cable ends through the clamp as shown;the rollers 11 and 11 being held in their outermost positions when thecable ends are inserted b v means of a cotter pin 21.. The momentthecable ends are. in position. cotter pins 21 are removed and any suitabletool is inserted through the respective ends of the clamps to drive therollers forward into engagement With the cables and the interiorinclined faces 8 and 8". A wedge action is in mismann nprbd ee whi h tro t eile'ctivelv the res ecti ve cables; the cane ends becoming jahimedbetween the heriz'aneu faces 7. 7 .eiid the respectii e rhllersh arid11. men therollers have drivel intd pdsltioii, it is desirable to at aininsert the (setter ins. They are, in this instance inserted ehindtherunes as when as placed scare the rulers in jamming position and preventaccidental release of the same, that isa cable such as here shown whenserving as a guy line may be subjected to considerable vibration andvarying strains, such strains might have a tendency to release therollers. but such re lease is of course prevented in this instance bythe cotter pins.

The present clamp is an improvement over that shown in our copendingapplication, previously referred to. In actual experience we found thatconsiderable trouble was encountered when applying the clamp. first dueto the, fact that the rollers would have to be inserted after the clamphas been applied; secondly no means were provided for securing therollers when in jamming position; third, loss ofthe rollers by escapingtl'lrough the ends would sometimes happen if one cable 'end was pulledfree. All or these features proved decidedly objectionable in actualpractice, hence the improved structi'ire here shown.

For instance. first. by forming a channel in each side wall and byproviding a pin on each roller. it is obvious that the rollers willalways he held in an elevated position where they will not interferewiththe free insertion or removalof the cable ends; secondly .byproviding the clips shown in Fig. 4. loss of either roller will beprevented as they cannot escape through the open ends of the clamp:third, by slotting the channel portions. or the offset sections 16forming the same. as indicated at 20. it is possible to insert a cotterpin which will secure the rollers either in released position or in'amming position; the latter being deci edly advantageous as itpositively prevents accidental release of either roller.

The pin shown at 14 ma v' be formed integral with the respectiverollers, or may be inserted therein. The, face of the rollers should beprefcrablv slightly corrugated to form a good grip'iing surface betweenthe inclined faces and the cables: the clamps proper ma-v be constructedof malleable iron. steel or the like} Cored openings may be formed as at22 to permit the insertion of a driving tool when it is desired torelease the rollers. While other features of the invention are more orless ecifieally illustrated, we wish it understoo that various changesin form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of theappended cla iins, similarly that the materials and finish of theseveral parts employed may be such as the eiiperience and judgment ofthe manufacturerniajr" dictate or' varying uses may demand.

Various chang'e s may be made in our invention within the sco e of theappeiided claims and some modi cations thereof are disclosed in our twoco-pending a plications Serial No. 463,664 and Serial 6. 463,665,

Cir

filed April 22, 1921, which applications are divisions of thisapplication.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent isl. A cable clamp comprising a casing havin anopening therethrough through which cables may be passed, a cableengaging member movable in the opening, guides in the casing, and meanson the cable engaging member cooperating with the guides whereby saidmember is guided.

2. A cable clamp comprising a casing havin i an opening therethroughthrough which cables may be passed, cable engaging rollers movable inthe opening, a guideway in the casing for each of the rollers, and meanson the rollers for engaging in the guideways for movably retaining therollers and guiding them.

3. A cable clamp comprising a casing having an opening therethroughthrough which fables may be passed, cable engaging rollers movable inthe opening, a diagonally extending guideway in the casing for each ofthe rollers, and means on the rollers for engaging in the guideways formovably retaining the rollers and guiding them.

t. A cable clamp comprising a casing having an opening therethroughthrough which cables may be passed, cable engaging rollers movable inthe opening, a guideway in the casing comprising a channel on oppositesides of the casing having a portion thereof open and aportion thereofclosed, means on the roller engaging in the channel for guiding theroller.

5. A cable clamp comprising a casing having an opening therethroughthrough which cables may be passed, cable engaging rollers movable inthe opening, a guideway in the casing comprising a channel on oppositesides of the casing having a portion thereof open and a portion thereofclosed, means on the roller engaging in the channel for guiding theroller, and means adapted to be inserted through the open portion of thechannel for retaining the roller in or out of its cable engagingposition.

6. A cable clamp comprising a casing having an opening therethroughthrough which cables may be passed, cable engaging rollers movable inthe opening, a guideway in the casing comprising a channel on oppositesides of the casing having a portion thereof open and a portion thereofclosed, means on the roller engaging in the channel for guiding theroller, channels extending to the end of the casing, and means forclosing the openings in the casing to prevent removal of the rollers.

7. A cable clamp comprising interspaced side sections, and integral topand bottom sections, a pair of open ended longitudinally extendingtriangular shaped chambers formed between the side, top and bottomsections through which a pair of cable ends are adapted to be extended,the apexes of said triangular shaped chambers extending toward eachother and terminating in a central communicating passage, a rollerinsertable in each triangular shaped chamber, a pair of guideways formedin the side sections of the clamp and at each end thereof and means oneach roller extending into said guideways.

8. A cable clamp comprising interspaeed side sections, and integral topand bottom sections, a pair of open ended longitudinally extendingtriangular shaped chambers formed between the side, top and bottomsections through which a pair of cable ends are adapted to be extended,the apexes of said triangular shaped chambers extending toward eachother and terminating in a central communicating passage, a rollerinsertable in each triangular shaped chamber, a pair of. guidewaysformed in the side sections of the clamp and at each end thereof, and apin in each roller extending into said guideways.

9. A cable clamp comprising interspaced side sections, and integral topand bottom sections, a pair of open ended longitudinally extendingtriangular shaped chambers formed between the side, top and bottomsections through which a pair of cable ends are adapted to be extended,the apexes of said triangular shaped chambers extending toward eachother and terminating in a central communicating passage, a rollerinsertable in each trian ular shaped chamber, a pair of guideways tormedin the side sections of the clamp and at each end thereof, a pin in eachroller extending into said guideways, and a stop member at the end ofeach guideway to prevent endwise removal of the rollers.

CHARLES lV. KEMPER. JOHN T. KEMPER.

